Cambria Sports Culture CIC Cymraeg

All walksEryri: Yr Wyddfa and Llanberis

Eryri: Yr Wyddfa and Llanberis

Mynydd Mawr

The elephant mountain west of Llyn Cwellyn, quiet even in August, with the best side-on view of the Nantlle ridge there is.

Distance
5.6 mi / 9 km
Time
4 hr
Ascent
600 m
Difficulty
Strenuous
Shape
Circular

Where it is

The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.

The route

From Rhyd Ddu, paths climb through forestry then onto the open ridge and up to the summit. Retrace your steps or by the forest track.

Worth knowing

  • Called the elephant mountain for its profile from the Caernarfon road.
  • The Nantlle ridge opposite is one of the finest ridge walks in Wales and is best appreciated from here.
  • Far quieter than anything east of the road.

What you’ll see

Craig y Bera’s rock buttresses, Llyn Cwellyn below, and the Nantlle ridge opposite.

Background

The forestry on the lower slopes was planted in the mid twentieth century over former sheepwalk and quarry ground.